Archive for the ‘Maintenance’ Category

Here are some garage door safety tips from DASMA (Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association).  This list is not intended to be a complete list of EVERY safety precaution.  Always consult your manufacturer’s instruction manual for safety information about your specific model.

1.    Regular Service:  Your garage door is probably the largest moving part in your home and is typically used every day.  Over time, parts can wear out and break, creating potential safety problems.  Although you should provide monthly safety checks and maintenance to your garage door system, an annual visit from a trained technician at Diamond Overhead Door can keep your door operating safely and smoothly for a long time.

2.    Replace Old Springs.  Springs are the most important and most dangerous part of your door.  Springs wear out.  When they break, injury can result.  If you have an older garage door, have your springs inspected by a professional technician at Diamond Overhead Door and replaced if needed.  If your door has two springs, replace both of them, even if one is not broken.  This will keep your door working efficiently.

3.    Check Your Cables:  Visually inspect the cables that attach the spring system to the bottom brackets on both sides of the door.  If these cables are frayed or worn, they are in danger of breaking, which can cause injury.  Due to the dangers associated with high tension, these cables should only be replaced by a trained technician.

4.    Squeaky Springs?  Springs can squeak and be noisy.  This is caused by normal use and does not necessarily indicate a problem.  To remedy the problem use a spray-on lubricant (recommended especially for garage door) or call us at Diamond Overhead Door for an appointment to oil and check your doors.

5.    Safety Cables:  If your garage door has extension springs, you need a safety cable that runs through the springs and secures to the wall or ceiling at each end.  When your garage door is down, extension springs are under very high tension.  If the spring breaks, it may cause injury.  A safety cable can keep that broken spring contained.  If you have extension springs but do not have a safety cable, call Diamond Door today.

6.  Struggling Door?  If your door does not go up and down smoothly, you may have an unsafe condition.  Even older door systems should operate smoothly.  If the awkward operation continues when the door in manually operated, you may have a spring system out of balance.  Spring systems are dangerous and should be repaired only by trained professsionals.

7.  Wath Your Fingers!  Every year, many unsuspecting homeowners injure their fingers by placing them between the door sections to pull down on the door.  If operating the door manually, NEVER place your fingers between the door sections.  Use the handles or the safe gripping points.

8.    Old Track?  When buying a replacement garage door, some homeowners are tempted to save a few dollars by putting the new door on the old track.  However, your old track may not fit with your new door, depending on the thickness of your sections, the weight of the door and the headroom required, the location of the garage door opener and other considerations.  The track and sections work together as a system.  For maximum performance and long life, you should use the track that is designed for your specific door.

9.  Man the Manual:  Keep the owner’s manual for your door and opener hanging near the door for easy reference.  Every model of door and opener has specific safety instructions unique to that model.

Here are some helpful safety tips for Garage Door Openers.  This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every safety precaution.  Always consult your manufacturer’s instruction manual for safety information about your model.

1.    Safety Reverse Feature:  Garage door openers have a safety reversal feature.  When the door closes on an object it will automatically reverse.  The safety reversal system MUST be tested every month.  With the door fully open, place a 1 1/2″ board (or a 2×4 laid flat) on the floor, centered under the garage door.  Bring the door down.  The door MUST reverse on striking the obstruction.  If the unit fails the Safety Reverse Test, consult your instruction manual or call for a trained technician.  Since 1993, all openers manufactured for the U.S. must include a second safety reversing feature such as photoelectric eyes.  These are installed near the floor.  Once the invisible beam is broken, the door reverses automatically.  If your electric door opener does not have this safety feature, it’s time to get a new opener. 

2.  The Six-Inch Rule:  The photo eyes should not be installed higher than six inches above the garage floor.

3.  The Five-Foot Rule:  The wall push button for your garage door opener should be mounted at least five feet above the floor, out of the reach of small children.  Teach your children never to play with opening and closing the door.

4.  When closing your garage door with a push button or remote control, you should always have the door in sight.  Watch the door until in closes completely, making sure no person or animal gets caught under a closing door.

5.  Reinforcement Brackets:  The top section of your garage door should have a reinforcement bracket to prevent damage to the door.  When installing a garage door opener yourself you should be sure to install a reinforcement bracket on the top section.

6.  Remote Controls:  Keep your remote controls out of the reach of children.  For security reasons, you should keep your remote controls locked up.  If you park your car outside your garage, be sure to lock your car so that potential burglers cannot access your remote and gain access to your garage.

7.  Your garage door should open and close easily without the garage door opener.  If it feels heavy or requires two hands to open it, the door is probably out of balance and in need of adjustment.  Call us at Diamond Overhead Door for service to get your garage door properly balanced.

Did you know you should have your garage doors serviced by a professional once per year. We will oil and adjust door, check all hardware and make sure it is in top working condition.